When you’re looking to replace your roof, you’ll be investing a lot of money into it. After all, a new roof is one of the most costly improvements you can make to your home. As such, you want to know how long your roof will last. If you have a shingle roof installed, how long can you expect it to stay in good condition? Here’s what you need to know.
Shingle Roofs Lifespan
Take a look online for shingle roofs, and you’ll see that typically you can expect around 15 to 25 years, depending on the kinds of shingles that you have installed. This is a catch-all lifespan though, and there are more things that will affect how long those shingles last. Here’s what affects that lifespan:
The Type of Shingles Installed
There are actually three different types of asphalt shingles that you can have installed, and the ones you pick will affect how long they last. 3 tab shingles are the most cost-effective option, and so they tend to have the shortest lifespan. Dimensional shingles are the ones that most homeowners choose to have installed, and they can last around 20 years on average.
Then there are luxury shingles, which last the longest out of all of them. There will be several factors to consider when you’re choosing which shingles to install on your roof. However, the lifespan will be one of them, so keep that in mind as you’re shopping around.
Weather Conditions
The weather conditions in your area have a huge impact on the lifespan of your shingle-tiled roof. Your roof will be designed to take on some damage over time, as the weather will wear away at it. That’s to be expected and will be taken into account in the average lifespan of the roof. However, if your roof is exposed to more extreme weather conditions, that can lead to issues with the roof and its premature weakening of it.
For example, if you’re likely to get a lot of hail then you’ll see the granules wash away quicker. That leads to the premature aging of your shingles, leading to a need for a replacement quicker. This is something that you’ll need to take into account when you’re looking at replacing your roof. Are you going to have the right weather where you live, that’s best for keeping shingles in the best condition?
Your Roof Ventilation
When having a new roof installed, you’ll want to take a look at the ventilation in your attic at the same time. Proper ventilation is crucial, as it lets hot, moist air escape and cycles in cooler air from outside. If the roof isn’t properly ventilated, that hot air will cause all kinds of problems for you. It can lead to increased energy bills as the air can’t escape and cool the house down, and it can lead to roof damage. With moist air, it can encourage mold and mildew to develop on the roof.
That will lead to damage over time, and if left long enough even lead to a roof replacement being needed. It will also damage the asphalt shingles as they’ll be exposed to extreme temperatures, and that will lead to them needing to be replaced before their time too. As such, it’s important that you have proper ventilation installed in your attic when you have a new roof installed. You can talk to your roofer about this, and they’ll be able to advise you on what you need to do.
The Way Your Roof Faces
This is something you’ve probably never even thought about before, but it has a real impact on the life span of your roof. The way your roof faces will affect how much sunlight it gets, and the more sunlight it gets, the quicker the asphalt shingles will degrade. On average, if your roof faces the east and west, then it’s going to get an equal amount of sunlight on each side, as the sun rises and sets.
That ensures the shingles wear evenly over time. If the roof faces the south, however, then it’s going to get direct sunlight all day and wear out quicker. Again, this is something that your roofer can help you with. They’ll be able to advise on how the sun will affect your asphalt shingle roof, and make recommendations depending on how your roof faces.
Roof Maintenance
No matter what kind of roof you have installed, you’ll need to take good care of it over the years. You don’t need to have a lot of knowledge to do so, either. You just need to be able to inspect the roof a couple of times a year and look for any issues. You should be able to spot if there are roof shingles that need replacing, or flashing that needs to be corrected.
If you ignore these issues, then they’ll get bigger over time and you’ll see that they contribute to the aging of your roof. If the problems are ignored for long enough, you may need to replace that roof much sooner than you would normally. If you see any issues during maintenance checks, call in a roofer to help you handle them as soon as possible.
The Roofer You Use
Picking a well-established and highly experienced roofer is key when you’re looking to replace your roof. They’ll be able to do the best possible job, and that ensures that the roof lasts for as long as possible. The best way to find a good roofer is to ask friends and family for recommendations and ask questions when you’re talking to them. A good roofer will always be happy to help you out.
The Bottom Line
The lifespan of your asphalt singles depends on so many different things. You need to consider the type of shingles, the weather conditions, and even the roofer who installs them. When you’re looking at roofing materials, keep all this in mind. That way, you’ll be able to pick just the right roof for you.